Nail-biter: Daly Cherry-Evans to confirm where future lies?

MANLY halfback Daly Cherry-Evans is today expected to end the media circus that has surrounded speculation about his playing future, only hours after NRL officials scrapped its unpopular round 13 contract-signing deadline.

Speculation has been rife Cherry-Evans would backflip on a multi-million deal to link with Gold Coast in 2016 to stay with Manly, but APN has been told by sources close to the playmaker he would honour a handshake deal with the Titans.

NRL boss Todd Greenberg announced yesterday the round-13 deadline would be dumped and replaced by a 10-day cooling off period, after which time the signing would be confirmed and lodged with the league.

Other changes will allow players to receive an offer from his existing club at any time during his contract period, but they would only be able to accept a rival club's offer if he was in the final year of his contract.

Greenberg said fans and clubs were frustrated with the "round 13" rule because it created uncertainty and speculation for a long time after a contract had been signed.

"I think everyone agrees it is unseemly to have months of speculation about whether a player is going to a rival club," he said. "Our view is a 10-day cooling off period is an acceptable solution for all involved."

The Cherry-Evans soap opera started on March 6 when the Titans trumpeted his signing for a reported $5 million over four years.

It reached flashpoint on April 21 when the Queensland Origin representative hit out at constant speculation he would renege. Cherry-Evans has indicated throughout the process his deal with the Titans was rock solid.